The Government will not push through proposals that churches argue would restrict their ability to deny jobs to gay people and transsexuals, Equality Minister Harriet Harman has confirmed.

A guide for gay fathers is released

A guide for gay fathers has been launched, offering advice on adoption, fostering and surrogacy to gay couples who want to become parents.

The Guide For Gay Dads is written by gay equality charity Stonewall which said "there's never been a better time for gay men to start a family".

The book, which is sponsored by the London Sperm Bank, gives practical tips on how to become a father as well as facts about sperm donation and co-parenting.

It also spells out legal changes affecting gay couples and contains a glossary of key terms in parenting.

Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, said: "There's never been a better time for gay men to start a family in Britain. The law is now on their side.

"This comprehensive new guide - the first of its kind specifically aimed at gay men - outlines all options, with handy tips and places to go for further support.

"We hope it'll convince some gay men who might have otherwise written off the prospect of raising children to reconsider."

The guide follows research commissioned by Stonewall from the University of Cambridge which found that children with same sex parents have the same quality of upbringing as children with heterosexual parents.

Gary Nunn, Stonewall's communications officer, said the guide aims to encourage gay couples not to write off the prospect of having children.

"In the year ending March 21 2010, just 60 of the 3,200 children who were adopted went to gay male couples," he explained. "This has doubled since 2007, but it's still less than 2%."